Gaelic Games

Kilkenny open 2022 with Walsh Cup win over Laois

Experimental Cats lineup comes from behind to respond to King’s free-taking exploits

Kilkenny’s Robbie Buckley and Roddy King of Laois. Photograph: Ken Sutton/Inpho

Sun Jan 16 2022 - 16:45

Kilkenny 1-27 Laois 0-24

Kilkenny made a winning start to 2022 when they ran out six point winners over Laois in the Walsh Cup at John Locke Park in Callan on Sunday afternoon.

Kilkenny were in experimental mode as they handed out a host of debuts including Shane Walsh, younger brother of Tommy and he top scored for the Cats with nine points.

As well as Walsh, the likes of Emmet Landy and Colm Prenderville also showed for selection ahead of the upcoming National Hurling League and Landy finished with 1-2 in total.

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In contrast Laois has a more experienced look about them and they dominated the majority of the first half as they led 0-13 to 1-9 with the free taking exploits of Ross King very much to the fore.

Landy’s goal arrived in the 13th minute on the back of a great block from Shane Walsh and that levelled up matters after Laois hit seven wides in the opening quarter.

Kilkenny scored 0-18 in the second period with half-time substitutes Robbie Buckley and Thomas Donnelly getting five points between them as Brian Cody's men took control of proceedings.

The Cats can now look forward to a clash with Wexford next Saturday and the winner of that game will advance to the Walsh Cup Final.

Kilkenny: L Dunphy; M Butler, J Burke, N MacMahon; D Blanchfield (0-1), C Heary (0-1), S Murphy (0-2); N Brennan (0-1), T Dunne; C Prenderville (0-3), E Landy (1-2), L Scanlon (0-2); C Bolger, S Walsh (0-9, 6 frees, 1 '65), S Morrissey (0-1).

Subs: D O'Keeffe for MacMahon (h/t), R Buckley (0-3) for Brennan (h/t), S Donnelly (0-2) for Bolger (h/t), A Brennan for Dunne (h/t), E O'Shea for Landy (56 mins) , Ciaran Wallace for Heary (65 mins).

Laois: E Rowland (0-2, 2 frees); D Conway, S Downey, D Hartnett; P Delaney (0-1), L O'Connell, R Mullaney; F Fennell, J Kelly (0-3); P Purcell (0-1), B Conroy (0-1), S Fitzpatrick; J Lennon (0-1), M Dowling, R King (0-13, 11 frees).

Subs: Stephen Bergin (0-2) for Lennon (h/t), Frank Flanagan for Conway (h/t), Willie Dunphy for Dowling (50 mins), Stephen Maher for Broderick (50 mins), Padraic Dunne for Hartnett (60 mins), Aidan Corby for Fennell (60 mins).

Referee: Richie Fitzsimons (Offaly)

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